Collapsible life-boat.



W. HOPPER.

GOLLAPSIBLE LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 0, 1014.

1,1 06,307. Pa nted Aug. 4, 19M

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PND'I'Q-LI'IHOvv WASHINGTON. a C.

W. HOPPER.

COLLAPSIBLE LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1914.

1, 1 06,307. P en Aug. 4, 1914 4 SHEETHBHBET 2.

& 3mm

THE NORRIS PETERS CO, PHOTO-LITHOV, WASHINGTON. D, C

W. HOPPER.

GOLLAPSIBLE LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.8,1914.

1,106,307, Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

14 07/001 flak/96naNozun THE NORRIS PETERS CQ. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, D C.

W. HOPPER.

COLLAPSIBLB LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.8,1914.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Norma THE NORRIS PETERS CO PHO'I'U LITHO, \rVASHINCTON D C? WILLIAM HOPPER, OF JEFFERSON, IOWA.

COLLAPSIBLE LIFE-BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

Application filed January 8, 1914. Serial No. 811,025.

10 type, such as are for use especially in an emergency.

The invention has for its object to provide for convenience and compactness of storage of the boat when not in demand.

A further object is to insure greater comfort or rather avoid certain discomforts heretofore experienced in the use of this type or class of boats.

A still further object is to facilitate or expedite the collapsing or folding of the boat when not needed for use, as well as to provide for again suitably positioning or re-assembling its parts.

A still further object is to provide for carrying out the aforesaid ends in a simple, expeditious and effective manner.

The invention therefore consists of a boat havino' certain structural features, including the combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter more fully disclosed and defined by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated the preferred embodiment of my in vention, wherein it Will be understood that various changes and modifications as to the detailed construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and in which drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of my boat collapsed or the parts thereof spread out in prone position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the boat, with its parts all suitably positioned or re-assembled. Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views thereof, the former showing the canvas or water-proof covering in position thereon and the latter with such covering removed. Fig. 5 is a transverse or vertical section of the boat. Fig. 6 is a side or edge elevation of a longitudinal central member spanning the boat from end to end, for the support of the canvas cover or closure. Fig. 7 is a detached or detailed partly side view and partly sectional view of one of the end hinged or pivoted members or rods, showing its structural outline and manner of hinging or pivoting the same to the bottom member. l ig. 8 is a fragmental partly side view and partly sectional view of one of the transverse side connecting members or bars, showing the detachable means of connection therefor. Fig. 9 is a detached side elevation of one of the side and bottom connecting pivoted rods or members and its side members attaching means. Fig. 10 is a detached elevational View of a staple or keeper such as used in connection with each of the transverse side connecting members or bars. Fig. 11 is a broken detailed sectional view taken through the boat-bottom, showing the use ofa caster in connection with the boat. Fig. 12 is a detached plan view of the preferred. form of nut used in connection with end rod members.

In carrying out my invention, I suitably construct a boat designated generally as 1, of a plurality of main or principal members or parts, two designated as 2 being appropriated for each end, the stem and stern corresponding structurally, two, designated as 4, for the sides, and one, designated as 5, for the bottom. These parts or members are each preferably formed or constituted of a plurality of planks or boards, individually designated as 6, the planks or boards of the central, bottom member 5 being arranged two thicknesses deep, the outer planks extending longitudinally and the inner planks transversely, while the single thickness of planks of the lateral and end members extend longitudinally and accordingly at right angles to the trend of the inner or upper planks of the bottom member, the purpose of which is obvious.

The lateral or side and end members are pivotally connected or hinged to the bottom 1 members, the lateral members preferably by means of nutequipped rods 7 extending or sliding through eyes or loops 8 at the ends of brackets 9 suitably secured to the transverse ribs or studding 4 of the lateral or 1 side members, the lower or inner ends of said rods being curved or formed into hooks or eyes 10 taking into or engaging staples 11. driven into, or otherwise secured to the bottom-member. end-members 2 and the bottom-member is preferably effected by means of "nut equipped rods 12 sliding or extending through eye or guide castings 13 securedto said end-members, the inner ends of the The connection between the rods 12 being hingedly connected, as at 14, to the bottom member, the nuts of said rods designated as 15, being emitted in Fig. 1, but shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4L and 5 being applied to said rods in sectional other parts as presently explained. The transverse ribs or studding members 49 have their lower ends enteringnotches or mortises 4 pro-- vided in the bottom member for obvious reasons. Hooks 16 attached to the said members 2 and engaging staples or keepers 17 secured to the supplemental side-members 4 provide for detachably connecting these parts together. The supplemental side members a which are suitably fixed to the side or lateral members 4 at each end thereof, in longitudinal alinement therewith and are provided with downwardly and inwardly inclined or sloping edges, to conform the parts to the usual boat or conventional. outline, as will be appreciated from Fig. 2. The end rods or members 12 are adapted therefore to enable the end-men'ibers 2 to assume a corresponding inclination with the vertical edges of the supplemental lateral members 4? the upper end-portions of said rods being extended vertically or straight from the general inclination thereof, as at 12 these ends of said rods being passed through transverse plates 18, the lateral rods, those adjacent the side members 4 passing at their corresponding ends, also through straps or bars 20, applied to said plates 18, said straps or bars also having passing through them the nut-equipped upper ends of members or bars 19 bolted to the supple- 1 mental lateral members 4E. The central end rods 12 have applied to their upper ends nuts 21 after passing said ends through end terminals or extensions of sockets 21 upon the ends of a longitudinal brace-bar or member 22, said extensions or terminals being designated as 23, and resting upon and accordingly thus secured to the transverse end members 18 for bracing or staying the parts of the boat longitudinally, as is apparent. The stay or brace member 22 is equipped -upon its underside with opposed suitably spaced stepped or angle brackets 24. adapted to take under the hatchway bars 25 thus providing for securing said brace or stay member centrally about thereto. Thenuts 21, it will be noted, have integrally formed therewith loop or ring forming extensions 21", which may serve as a convenient means for attachment thereto of a towing line or for efl'ecting connection. there-between and the block and tackle of the davits of the vessel or boat carrying or equipped with any surf-boat, as is apparent.

' The hatch-way bars or members 25 are equipped at their ends with angle members with their pendent arms engaging or let into keepers or stirrups 27, the latter being formed with nut-equipped bolt-like ex tensions effecting connection with bars 43 and the lateral or side members 4, as seen in Fig. 5.

Suitable transverse bars or members 28 are secured within the boat, the ends of said bars or members having secured thereto at their ends angle-members 29, the vertical or pendent arms thereof engaging or being received by keepers 3O suitably secured to the studding of the side-members l, as seen in Fig. 8.

Suitably disposed longitudinally of the boat and resting upon the transverse bars 28, contiguous to the sides of the boat, are boards improvised into seats 31 for the use 0 of the passengers in the emergency. It is observed that the seat-forming boards 31 may be severed to form less lengthed boards and may be light or thin, and be suitably superposed or disposed in two thicknesses 35 for requisite strength for seats or adapted by their suitable disposition with respect to the members 28 to constitute or serve as bunks, as will be readily appreciated. The V severalend and side or lateral members are suitably equipped around their otherwise contacting edges with preferably rubber strips or packing 31 to render the same effectively water-tight at those points.

The side or lateral members a are tightly fitted to and held against the bottom member 5 by means of metallic studs a secured to said lateral member upon the outside and extending therebelow and apertured eye plates or keepers 5 secured to the lower surface of said bottom-member and adapted to receive the depending portions of said studs,

as seen in Figs. 2 and 5 and also whereby, with these metallic members, as thus brought together and the end-members suitably lifted to position by pressing inwardly upon the lateral members the several parts of the structure are snugly and ei'fectively adjusted to their respective positions.

A tarpaulin 32 including suitably oiled canvas members or closures 33, 38 for the upper initially open portion of the boat, are provided to lessen the discomfort to which the passengers or occupants would otherwise be subjected, as will be appreciated. The canvas-members or. closures are also preferably provided with corded hems, as M, along their edges and are suitably clasped or held in place by spring-Clasps 85 secured to the side or lateral members, near the upper edges thereof, said clasps being arranged to engage the canvas members at suitable intervals along the edges of their entire lengths for the effective closing of the hold of the boat, as exemplified in Figs. 2 and 3. The canvas-section or member 33 covering or forming a closure for the hatchway, centrally with respect to the other canvas members or sections, is itself in sections adapted or enabled by suitably securing the corded hem between the sections in eye studs 37 secured in the member 22, and passing endless extensions or continuations 38 of the corded hem of said sections under angle-studs 39 projecting from said member 22 and looping the same into engagement with certain of the spring-clasps 35, as seen particularly in Fig. 3 and partially in Fig. 2. The hatch-way closure-sections 33 are adapted to be folded back upon themselves, at diagonally opposite corner-edges, as seen in Fig. 3, whereby ready access may be had to the hold of the boat by the passengers in passing from a vessel or transport, in an emergency.

It has therefore been made apparent, it is believed from the foregoing in connection with the accompanyingillustration, that my invention fulfils all the requirements of a compactly and readily collapsible or foldable surfboat for emergency use, as an ad-. junetive part or equipment especially of passenger-carrying vessels as Well as equally adapted for use for other craft.

It is also observed that, while the boat is readily collapsible, it is also durable and capable of enduringgreat resistance, as is of great moment in this type of boat.

The boat or structure may be suitably mounted upon casters 40 of any preferred or other construction for convenience and facility in moving the boat to position upon ship-board.

It is also observed that in suitably providing for the propulsion or movement of the boat, staples 4:1, to serve as oar pins may be supplied to the top plank of each lateral or side-member, within the hatchway, to receive oars (not shown) which, when not in use, may be suitably stored or lie in the bottom of the boat.

I claim- 1. A boat or structure of the type described including foldable lateral and end members, and a bottom-member, said lateral members having alining supplemental memhere with downwardly and inwardly sloping,

or inclined forward edges, transverse plate members upon the upper edges of said lateral and end members, straps or bars superposing said plates and rod and bar members effecting connection between said plates, and straps and said end and supplemental lateral members.

2. A boat or structure of the type described, including a bottom member and collapsible end and lateral members, means effecting connection there-between, a central longitudinal member having connection with said end-members comprising nutequipped rods extending through endterminals of said longitudinal member, the nuts of said rods having loop forming extensions to receive a towing-line or provide for the attachment thereto of a blockand tackle of the davits of a vessel.

3. A boat or structure of the type described including a tarpaulin forming a closure for the hold, said tarpaulin being in sections, the central section itself being in subsections and adapted to form a closure for the hatch-way, said tarpaulin sections or members having corded hems with cordextensions, said boat having a central longitudinal. member equipped with apertured studs and angle studs, said boat also being provided with spring-clasps, said cord extensions being engaged -with said studs and spring clasps.

4. A boat or structure of the type described including a bottom member and :t'oldable lateral and end members, said lateral and end members being equipped with slidable hook-ended rods engagin keepers secured to said bottom-member, said hookend rods also extending through brackets secured to said lateral members and through guides on said end-members.

5. A boat or structure of the type described, including a bottom-member and collapsible lateral and end members and means eflecting connection there-between, comprising a central longitudinal member, transverse plates resting upon the upper edges of said end and lateral members, and nut-equipped inclined rods pivotally connected to said bottom member and having upper and right-lined portions extending through said transverse plates, and end terminals of said central longitudinal memher.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM HOPPER.

lVitnesses A. D. HOWARD, P. H. BRADLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

